The End of the World...Again? [Aziracrow]

8

"Oi... Oi!" -Muriel was trying to get their attention, but it was useless.

Crowley and Aziraphale were too busy fighting, looking like children as they took swings at each other. Suddenly, Nina and Maggie entered the bookshop, and the sight stopped them in their tracks.

"Oh, dear heavens, what happened?" -Maggie asked, alarmed.

She had spotted Mr Fell through the window and had excitedly told Nina; they'd planned to welcome him back, with Nina carrying a plate of custard-filled buns. But upon entering and seeing the two brawling on the floor, they were stunned, unsure of what to do or say.

"I thought those two loved each other..." -Nina murmured.

At that, Crowley grabbed Aziraphale by the shirt and slammed him onto the floor, sitting atop him. "Exactly, Archangel, where's all that love now, eh?"

Aziraphale's eyes reflected sadness, but he quickly twisted it around, flipping Crowley onto his back. "We can't love each other! You're a demon, and I'm an angel!" -he exclaimed painfully.

Muriel grew alarmed at that admission, as she wasn't aware that Nina and Maggie knew what they really were. The two of them got up from the floor and glared at each other.

Just as they were about to go for another punch, Muriel stepped between them, eyes closed and arms outstretched to separate them.

"Enough!" -she requested, peacefully.

Both took a deep breath and started tidying themselves up. They were a mess after the scuffle.

"That never used to matter to you..." -Crowley retorted, responding to Aziraphale's last words.

The Archangel clenched his jaw, swallowing the pain he felt inside, and looked at his white coat, now dirty and stained with the bit of blood they'd drawn from each other's blows.

"I liked this one..." -he muttered sadly.

He took it off and placed it on the armchair, looking around his old bookshop. Then, as if calling him, he spotted his old wool jumper on the armchair, lying there carelessly. He walked over, picked it up, and held it close, smiling as he hugged it, catching a whiff of Crowley's scent, making his heart skip a beat.

"Did... did he wear this?" -he wondered, then shook his head, dismissing the thought as absurd.

Muriel was helping Crowley with his hair and the new cut he now sported on his cheek.

"One more for the collection" -she said with a bit of amusement, trying to lighten the mood.

Crowley smiled at her; he saw her as a child and found her endearing, as she was gentle and didn't need to be harsh to be good.

Aziraphale watched them with curiosity, and perhaps a hint of jealousy. He approached Maggie and Nina, apologising for what they'd witnessed.

"Oh, don't worry, Mr Fell, it's understandable that you'd have your differences. We came by because I thought I saw you pass by earlier and wanted to say hello. We've missed you" -Maggie said with a nervous smile, taking the plate of buns from Nina and offering them to Aziraphale. He raised a hand and politely declined.

"What happened here? Don't tell me you're planning to demolish the bookshop" -Nina said, gesturing to the debris in the background.

Aziraphale and Crowley looked at the mess.

"No, we're not going to remodel" -Aziraphale replied with a smile. "Muriel thinks it might be a good idea to expand a bit."

Both women nodded, though not entirely convinced, and made their farewells. The tension was uncomfortable, so they left, leaving the trio alone once more.

Crowley finally put his glasses on and looked at Muriel. "Don't leave this bookshop for anything, and don't let anyone other than us in, understood?"

"Where are you going?" -Aziraphale asked, but the demon ignored him. "Crowley?" -He was ignored again. "CROWLEY!"

"Muriel, let the gentleman know he's free to go whenever he likes. I need to go find..." -he paused for a moment. "...my niece." -He finished, deciding that if the angel was going to be a bad father, then he was willing to be a good uncle.

"Oh no, you can't do that. I'll go and find her..." -Realising Crowley was still determined to ignore everything he said, Aziraphale turned to Muriel. "Tell him he can't do that."

Muriel said nothing, just looked at them, confused, not understanding why they needed her to pass messages when they could hear each other perfectly well.

Crowley left without another word and got into his beloved Bentley. But before he could drive off, the Archangel was already seated beside him.

"What the...?!" -Crowley started but fell silent immediately. "No, I'm not talking to you."

He sped off at his usual breakneck pace, with Aziraphale clutching his seat nervously, not having been in the car for a long time.

It seemed the two of them would be searching for Raphiel together, yet without the maturity to speak civilly to one another.

"I don't know why you're bothering to look for her; she's my responsibility," -Aziraphale said.

"'Shi's mi rispinsibiliti'" -Crowley mimicked in a mocking tone, not even glancing at him.

Aziraphale scowled and looked away. He wasn't going to argue with someone unwilling to cooperate like an adult.

The Archangel tried to sense Raphiel, but he couldn't feel her presence, and despite Crowley's efforts to look for any sign of her, he couldn't feel anything either. They would have to wait for a sign, but both were worried, hoping that what happened was merely a fit of anger. However, Crowley was unaware of what Aziraphale knew: that Raphiel's wings had changed colour. Aziraphale didn't know what it meant, but he was sure it wasn't a good sign.

Meanwhile, Raphiel had descended into Hell. Her eyes glowed golden, and her wings were spread wide. Many demons felt fearful at the sight of her until one crossed her path.

"Welcome to Hell. My name's Furfur. How can I assist you?" -he asked politely.

After a long time, Furfur had been promoted and now received visitors in Hell. Raphiel's presence was strange, but he was intrigued.

"I want to speak to whoever is in charge—Satan himself, if possible" -she demanded.

He smirked slightly. "I'm afraid that won't be possible, but you could speak to the Duke of Hell."

She agreed, and so she met with Shax, who was a bit displeased until Raphiel requested help to destroy Earth.

"Just a small legion will do; I want to make the world burn and watch the Supreme Archangel suffer for it" -she declared with fury.

Hearing this, Shax was tempted and deeply pleased but didn't agree so easily, wanting assurances that this wasn't a trap.

Meanwhile, in Heaven, preparations began, as it appeared another war was brewing. The only ones capable of stopping it were Crowley and Aziraphale, who couldn't speak to each other without launching an insult.

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Sorry, late, but I'm still here, today I'll publish more chapters, so... Vote, share and comment please

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